It’s GO TIME for #15andFairness!

12,000 Ontario public college faculty are on strike for fairness! These members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) are standing up for equal pay for contract faculty, job security and academic freedom so that faculty have a stronger voice in the public college system. These issues are about ensuring that students have quality education in the classroom and decent jobs when they graduate.

The vast majority of Ontarians believe in decent work and equal pay for full-time, part-time, contract and temporary workers. The fight for equal pay for contract faculty is directly connected to the fight to improve Bill 148. We need strong contract language and strong labour laws to ensure that women, workers of colour, newcomers and all those who face barriers in the labour market aren’t paid less for doing similar work.

Friend, take a moment right now to send a message (click here) to the College Employer Council and elected representatives at Queen’s Park in support of equal pay, job security and academic freedom for college faculty. Then click here to watch and share the video of college students supporting college faculty.

By supporting Ontario college faculty demands for equal pay, job security and academic freedom, we are also building support for strong legislation that will protect all workers. Grab $15 and Fairness placards and join a picket line in your community to support these courageous workers. To find a picket line in your area, click here. To download and print a placard, click here. To download and print our new leaflets in support of the college faculty strike for fairness, click here.

Don’t forget to snap a photo and post it using the hashtags #StandWithFaculty and#15andFairness so that we can find them easily and re-tweet them.

If you are in Toronto on Thursday, November 2, join the rally (12:00 noon at Queen’s Park) in support of quality education and decent work in Ontario’s public college system. Click here to RSVP and share on Facebook.

It’s GO TIME for Bill 148Final Consultations and AmendmentsWe are at a crucial stage in the legislative process for Bill 148. On October 19, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act passed 2nd reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs for consultations and amendments.

This is our last chance to strengthen the equal pay and scheduling provisions within the legislation. Consultations are underway right now and the Committee will consider final amendments on November 16. In reality, all the decisions regarding Bill 148 are being made right now. If you haven’t sent an email to Premier Kathleen Wynne, please do it now! (click here). If you have already emailed the Premier, then please encourage your co-workers and friends to do so as well.

November 3 DEADLINE to endorse the $15 & Fairness SubmissionsWritten submissions on Bill 148 will be accepted by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs until 5:00 pm on Friday, November 2. We are encouraging individuals and organizations to endorse the submissions made by the Workers’ Action Centre, Parkdale Community Legal Services and the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Help us spread the word on social media!On Thursday, November 2, the final day of consultations will be live streamed. You can watch the proceedings here. Please help us amplify our message over social media and use the hashtags: #15andFairness #Bill148 #ONPoli so that we can easily find them and share them.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Join one near you!

There are numerous actions and events being organized across Ontario! Click here for our Facebook events listings. If you don’t see an action in your area, let us know how we can help you get one going!

Thursday, November 2

TORONTOFaith Leaders’ Forum: Election 2018 – Voting to end poverty9:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Queen’s Park, Rooms 228/230 | Click here for a mapJoin faith leaders and representatives from diverse religious groups at Queen’s Park to discuss concrete solutions to address growing poverty faced by our communities. At this crucial moment, Ontario’s Members of Parliament are debating whether to change labour laws to create pathways out of poverty for workers and their families, or maintain the status quo. Let’s come together and speak clearly about our vision for a poverty-free Ontario, and our expectations from elected officials in the lead up to the 2018 election. Click here to download the poster.

TORONTODefend Quality Education & Decent Work – Support College Faculty12:00 noon to 1:15 pm | Queen’s Park Legislative Buildings | Click here for a mapCourageous college faculty have been forced out on strike by a College Employer Council that refuses to bargain fairly. On November 2, college faculty from across Ontario will be rallying to defend quality education and decent work in our public college system and for future generations of workers.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

OTTAWANovember Fight for $15 & Fairness Organizing Meeting6:30 PM to 7:30 PM | 25oneCommunity 251 Bank Street | Click here for a mapThe Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will be voting on amendments (clause by clause) on November 16. All decisions about strengthening Bill 148 are being made right now! We need to mobilize to make sure Bill 148 is strengthened and not weakened by the Big Business lobby. We will also be planning our solidarity efforts with college faculty at Algonquin College.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

Friday, November 3

KINGSTONKingston Fight for $15 & Fairness Supports College Faculty12:00 noon | St. Lawrence College 100 Portsmouth Avenue (main entrance) |Click here for a mapJoin the picket lines at St. Lawrence College to send a message that we support equal pay for contract workers! To download and print a placard, click here. To download and print our new leaflets in support of the college faculty strike for fairness, click here.To share the information on Facebook, click here.

OSHAWAPicket Line Pizza Party11:30 AM to 1:00 PM | Durham College 100 Portsmouth Avenue (main entrance) |Click here for a mapCome by OPSEU’s picket line to talk to faculty members at both Durham College and UOIT about the state of their respective negotiations. Faculty members should not have to go on strike in order to demand better quality education for their students. Let’s call on the College Employer Council and UOIT to reach a fair deal with OPSEU and the UOIT Faculty Association! To download and print a placard, click here. To download and print our new leaflets in support of the college faculty strike for fairness, click here.To share the information on Facebook, click here.

Monday, November 6

TORONTO$15 & Fairness Phone Banking Party with LeadNow5:30 PM – 8:00 PM | 720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223 |Click here for a mapToronto activists are partnering with LeadNow to organize a phone banking party. We want to connect with our supporters across Ontario and make sure that everyone has a chance to make their voices heard at this critical time. The more people who can help us make call, the stronger will be our influence at Queen’s Park. Every caller will need a cell phone & a computer to make the calls (minutes won’t be charged to your phone). If you are able to, please bring along your cell phone and laptop, if not we will make sure there are extras. Let us know you are coming so we can make sure there is enough equipment and pizza for everyone. Click here to register for the event!To spread the word on Facebook, click here.

Tuesday, November 7

TORONTOToronto-wide Organizing Meeting5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223 |Click here for a mapThe Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will be voting on amendments (clause by clause) on November 16. All decisions about strengthening Bill 148 are being made right now! We need to mobilize to make sure Bill 148 is strengthened and not weakened by the Big Business lobby. We will also be planning our solidarity efforts with college faculty. Please RSVP so we know how many snacks to provide! To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

Wednesday, November 8

$15 & FAIRNESS DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR COLLEGE FACULTYAll day, ONTARIO-WIDE | Click here for a list of picket lines in your communityWe want to help keep up moral for the brave college faculty who are fighting for equal pay, fairness and decent work for all of us. Grab a $15 & Fairness placard and head on down to a picket line. Even better, organize a $15 and Fairness contingent in your community to visit the line together. Grab a $15 and Fairness placards and join a picket line in your community to support these courageous workers. To download and print a placard, click here. To download and print our new leaflets in support of the college faculty strike for fairness, click here.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

OTTAWAPublic Forum: College Faculty Strike Back7:00 PM to 9:00 PM | 25oneCommunity 251 Bank Street | Click here for a mapThe strike by Ontario College Faculty, now in its third week, is taking place in a context of precarious work, attacks on workers’ rights (including through back to work legislation), and austerity cuts to public services. Join us for a look at what’s at stake and a discussion about what we can all do to defend workers’ rights and public services during this strike and beyond. To download and print a placard, click here. To download and print new leaflets in support of the college faculty strike for fairness, click here.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

Friday, November 10

BRAMPTON$15 and Fairness on the doorstep!5:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Ray Lawson Blvd and Cherrytree Drive |Click here for a mapJoin the Fight for $15 and Fairness in Brampton as we go door to door to people about Bill 148 and ask if they would like to put up lawn signs! Over the past few weeks, we’ve had very positive responses at the doorsteps, with many community members taking up lawn signs. We will also be getting letters signed to deliver to Premier Wynne telling her to: Strengthen Bill 148!To share the information on Facebook, click here.

Wednesday, November 15

CHALLENGE THE CHAMBERS! ONTARIO-WIDE CAMPUS DAY OF ACTIONSurprisingly, Ontario colleges and universities are members of Ontario Chambers of Commerce — the organization that is spearheading the campaign against decent work. Students, staff and faculty will be joining forces calling on post-secondary institutions to distance themselves from the OCC campaign against a $15 minimum wage and better labour law. Let’s make sure our post-secondary system is representing the needs of students, staff and faculty, not the Big Business lobby.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

TORONTOOutreach Blitz! Decent Work & Health Network University of Toronto12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street (main entrance) |Click here for a mapHealth workers and students can be a powerful voice of support to ensure that the bill is passed in its strongest form and then implemented. Please join us to learn more and spread the word about how health workers and students are participating in the movement for decent work! We will be talking to students in the Health Sciences Building about how to get involved.To RSVP and share on Facebook, click here.

Saturday, November 18

TORONTOOFL Young Workers’ Assembly9:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Sheraton Centre, Civic Ballroom North, 123 Queen St West |Click here for a mapYoung workers can lead the labour movement to create decent work and push back against hate. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from young leaders who have been leading campaigns to ensure fairness for all. This assembly is OPEN TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, whether you are a member of a union or not. Please register (free admission) today to claim your spot, and don’t forget to mention if you need childcare or accommodation for an accessibility issue, in the registration form.To register (free admission), click here.To spread to word on Facebook, click here.